Master Franchise Deal Will Expand Wendy’s Into The Middle East

Wendy’s is about to make a big impression on the Middle East and North Africa.

Kuwait-based Alghanim Industries has acquired the rights to develop the U.S. burger chain’s restaurants across the MENA region from Saudi-based Alamar Foods, a company owned by Al Jammaz Group and Carlyle Group. The company did not disclose the value of the deal, which also gives Alghanim all of the operational outlets in the UAE.

The expansion, to be spread across 10 years, includes opening Wendy’s stores in the company’s home market of Kuwait, which has the highest consumption of quick-serve food per capita in the MENA region.

Currently, Wendy’s has 18 stores in the region, all in the UAE.